Australian Air Crash Claims Lives Of Three US Marines
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Three US Marines lost their lives on Sunday when an Osprey aircraft crashed on a distant tropical island as part of war games north of the Australian mainland, as stated by US military authorities.
Amid diminishing light, rescue teams worked to evacuate survivors from the remote crash site. US officials noted that five crew members were airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital in a “serious condition.”
Read more :Â An Indian Army Helicopter Crashes in Occupied Kashmir.
The US Marine Rotational Force in Darwin confirmed that there were “a total of 23 personnel on board” during the incident. Australia’s military clarified that only Americans were involved.
The crash’s location, on the remote and scarcely populated Melville Island approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Darwin, complicated rescue operations.
The Osprey, a hybrid craft resembling both a helicopter and a plane, was partaking in the Predators Run exercises, a series of war maneuvers involving thousands of troops from the US and Australia, along with other nations such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles conveyed their “deepest condolences” to the US military, emphasizing the significance of the joint efforts undertaken by partner nations.
The incident raised concerns due to the Osprey’s history of troubles, with past fatal crashes. The Osprey is a tilt-rotor aircraft that combines helicopter and turboprop plane features.
The event follows a recent fatal training crash in which four Australians perished when their Taipan helicopter crashed into the sea during multinational war games.
